Revākhaṇḍa ascribed to the Vāyupurāṇa (RKV) 45
English (machine translation) 45
- Language
- English
Contents
- 45.41 — 2 parts
45.1
Glorious Mārkaṇḍeya said: / This very question was formerly addressed to Maheśvara / by King Uttānapāda at an assembly of sages and gods.
45.2
Uttānapāda said: / This pilgrimage place is exceedingly meritorious, supreme, and composed of all the gods; / a place more secret than the secret, neither seen nor heard of [before], O Hara.
45.3
How did Śūlabheda arise, and by whom was it produced in ancient times? / Relate to me in detail the glorification of that pilgrimage place, O Lord.
45.4
Īśvara said: / Formerly, there was a dānava of great heroism, arrogant with strength; / in the mortal world there was none like him in prowess or might.
45.5
He was the son of a son of Brahmā, named Andhaka, wild with pride. / Living in his own domain, the wicked one ruled a kingdom free of obstacles.
45.6
Living hearty and stout in the mortal world, he could not be overcome by the gods. / The dwelling of that wicked one was like an enclosure of fire.
45.7
At that time, O descendant of Bharata, Andhaka considered: / 'I shall gratify Mahādeva, so that he will be gracious.
45.8
I shall ask for the divine boon which resides in my mind.' / Having made that supreme resolve, Andhaka set out from his house.
45.9
Having reached the bank of the Revā, the dānava devoted himself to ascetic heat. / He performed fierce ascetic heat, terrible, causing the hair to stand on end.
45.10
Then for a divine thousand years he went without food; / for a second thousand, he lived consuming only water;
45.11
for a third thousand, he was devoted to drinking smoke; / for the fourth thousand of years, he remained engaged in the practice of yoga.
45.12
No one in this world has performed such exceedingly terrible ascetic heat. / While he stood reduced to skin and bones, O descendant of Bharata,
45.13
a trail of smoke then issued from his head, O king; / passing beyond the world of the gods, it remained pervading Kailāsa.
45.14
Then Umā, standing near the god, spoke [these] words: / 'Who is this in the human world who stands performing fierce ascetic heat?
45.15
Four thousand years have passed, O Supreme Lord! / Such ascetic heat was never seen or heard to be practiced by anyone.
45.16
Why do you show disregard, O God, towards this one endowed with vows? / To everyone you give swiftly with [only] little ascetic heat, O all-pervading one.
45.17
I will not play the dice game with you today, O Maheśvara, / until this dānava is raised up, O lover of your devotees!'
45.18
Īśvara said: / 'Well said, well said, O great goddess, adorned with all auspicious marks! / I did not know that the lord of the dānavas was tormenting himself.
45.19
Established in the practice of yoga, O auspicious one, he is meditating upon that supreme abode. / Come there with me to where he performs ascetic heat.'
45.20
Accompanied by Umā, the god Maheśvara went there; / and the god Śambhu saw [him] reduced to skin and bones.
45.21
Pleased, the god of gods, Maheśvara, replied: / 'Hail! You have endured a terrible, dreadful hardship, causing the hair to stand on end!
45.22
Why was such terrible ascetic heat performed by you, my child? / I shall grant the boon, my child, which resides in your mind.'
45.23
Andhaka said: / 'If you are pleased with me, O God, if you are a granter of boons, O Śaṅkara, / may I conquer all the gods through your grace, O Maheśvara!'
45.24
Īśvara said: / 'Even in a dream, all the thirty [gods] are never to be fought. / What is impossible should not be spoken, nor what is not pleasing to the mind.
45.25
Ask for something else, whatever resides in your mind, / among those who dwell in heaven, or in the mortal world, or in the netherworlds.
45.26
You shall enjoy manifold pleasures as desired among mortals; / rule a kingdom free of obstacles, just as the lord of gods does in heaven.'
45.27
Having heard the words of the god, that Andhaka stood dejected: / 'My toil was in vain; nothing was accomplished by me!'
45.28
Releasing a deep sigh, he fell onto the surface of the earth; / like a tree cut down at the root, he then became breathless.
45.29
Then, seeing him fallen unconscious, the goddess spoke [these] words:
"Grant him, O Śaṅkara, whatever desire he desires.
45.30
If you neglect a devotee, dishonour will be yours."
45.31
Īśvara said:
"If I ever grant a boon, O goddess, according to his wish,
he will then respect neither Viṣṇu, nor Brahmā, nor even me,
45.32
having attained supremacy, O ruler of the gods, over other gods and demons as well."
45.33
The goddess said:
"Devising some means, O Maheśvara, revive him;
speak the boon: 'Conquer all the gods, with the exception of Viṣṇu.'"
45.34
Īśvara said:
"The means that is in my mind, O goddess, is a good one;
I shall indeed grant him that very boon which you have spoken."
45.35
Then, sprinkled with nectar, he instantly recovered his health;
he became like one reborn, adorned in all his limbs.
45.36
"Listen with a single mind and receive the supreme boon;
except for Viṣṇu, I shall grant whatever you hold dear and desired.
45.37
May everything bear fruit for you; let your duty not be otherwise.
I grant you this boon, O Asura, if you accept:
45.38
except for Viṣṇu and without me, you shall conquer all the gods."
45.39
Andhaka said:
"So be it!" he said, relying solely on his strength,
"Except for Viṣṇu, I shall conquer [all] by my own strength, O Maheśvara.
45.40
Indeed, I have attained my purpose!" Having spoken thus, he bowed low.
"Depart, O god, together with Umā, to the excellent peak of Kailāsa."
45.41
Mounting the bull, the god, accompanied by Umā,
having thus granted him the boon, vanished right there.
45.41.p1
|| Thus ends the forty-fifth chapter, named 'The Description of Granting the Boon to Andhaka', in the Revākhaṇḍa of the Avantīkhaṇḍa, the fifth [part] of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses.
45.41.p2
RKV Chapter 46
Linked texts (1)
- Revākhaṇḍa (Vāyupurāṇa) — Sanskrit